WILLIE MULLINS has pulled four of his horses out of Cheltenham Festival – including a Gold Cup hope who’s a ‘natural’ over fences.
The Closutton boss trimmed down his squad for next month’s meeting at today’s latest scratching stage.
One of the big names to miss out on a trip to Prestbury Park is recent grade 3 winner Embassy Gardens.
The nine-year-old gelding gave a five-length thrashing to the hugely respected Monty’s Star on his first run of the season at Tramore on New Year’s Day.
Victory in the hot contest won previously by Gold Cup heroes including Minella Indo and Al Boum Photo was followed with a sixth-place finish in last weekend’s Irish Gold Cup.
Embassy Gardens, who is owned by Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, only lost ten-and-a-half lengths to Galopin Des Champs.
But his place in the Gold Cup field – for which he had been as short as 25-1 – was scrapped by Mullins, as was his position in the Ryanair.
Mullins also pulled last year’s bet365 Gold Cup winner Minella Cocooner from his Gold Cup team.
A real stayer, the 3m2f of the Gold Cup trip might even prove too short for the 25-1 Grand National chance, who could on his way straight to Aintree off a mark of 154.
Mullins has the 1-2 Gold Cup favourite in the shape of the awesome Galopin Des Champs.
He was untouchable in winning a third straight Irish Gold Cup and looks like being the banker of the week at the Festival.
Elsewhere, Mullins also took two horses out of the Champion Chase.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Willie Mullins gives verdict on ’embarrassing’ changes to the Cheltenham Festival” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6362554705112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Gentleman De Mee, the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old who finished a length runner-up in the race last year is out, as is Blue Lord.
Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s ten-year-old last tasted success in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase right back in December 2022.